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I ramp up my efforts, concentrating all of my strength on her. My own body is still feeling the effects of my exertion from last night, and it’s going to be even worse after all of this.
But none of that matters to me right now. Even if it takes everything I’ve got, there’s nothing I’m going to stop at to bring Althia back to me.
A few painstaking minutes pass as I continue exercising all the healing magic I’ve got. Although I’m a chivdouyu, a caste without much need for magic, I never gave up practicing in my own free time, and I pray that it all pays off at this moment when I need it the most.
Sweat runs down my face, dripping onto my arms below me. My own breath begins to falter, each drawing of oxygen feeling like I’m hurtling down from the skies above, yet I do not stop. It’d take everything the world has to bring me down.
A moment comes where I almost slip into an unconscious state, hanging on by a mere thread of energy. Blood falls from my nose, staining the bed sheets below.
I can’t tell if my healing is beginning to drain my own life force, but if I have to do that to save Althia then it’s a choice I’ll accept with no hesitation.
As hard as I try, there’s no way I can prohibit the lingering thoughts of failure running rampant in my mind.
She’s going to die, just put her out of her misery.
It’ll all be because of you and your negligence.
What kind of a man are you? To leave your mate to suffer like this…
“No!” I shrill. “If you die on me, Althia, I’ll take out every fucking person in this house!”
The hum of the magic turns into a roar as my efforts amplify, my own voice rising to a scream as I blast every last ounce of magic out of me. Althia’s eyes shoot open, her back arching as she gasps like she is starved of oxygen.
“Don’t!” she yells, her nails digging into my arm as her eyes dart to meet mine.
“It’s me!”
I look her dead in the eyes as hers begin to relax, her grip gradually following suit.
“Valkus.” She sighs. “I can’t believe you’re here… I thought I was going to die.”
“Are you alright?”
“Or am I dreaming?” she asks. “Is this what the afterlife looks like?”
Relieved, I grasp her gently and readjust the pillows under her head.
“Stop speaking for a moment and catch your breath.”
As soon as she is stabilized, I lay my head down beside her, my body riddled with exhaustion. Somehow, in some way, I pushed past those terrible voices and brought her back to life.
Maybe I’m the one who is dreaming.
I glance up at her again just to make sure. There she sits, her expression blank and tired. It seems as though her mind is still catching up, but I take comfort in the fact that she’s fine for now.
I reach out to her, gently stroking her face as searing pains cramp my arms and legs. This was far worse than last night, and part of me doubted that I could save her.
One thing is for certain, I have to put a stop to whatever is going on. If Althia has another physical breakdown like this, luck may not be so keen to serve me again.
21
ALTHIA
I’m running as fast as my feet can carry me, yet everything passes by as if I’m on a leisurely stroll. If only that was the case.
It’s dark. I can only see two steps ahead of me and the trees in the distance and nothing in between. There is only a faint purple sky above. I can’t tell if it’s fading, but I can’t take the chance to look.
Something is hot on my tail, screaming behind me as I hope to outrun whatever it is.
